Wilson’s New Freedom
Wilson wins election of 1912
Wilson’s background
Youth spent in the South
during the Civil War and
Reconstruction
Son of a minister
Lawyer, professor, president of
Princeton University
Governor of New Jersey
Wilson’s New Freedom
New Freedom
Triple wall of Privilege
Trusts, tariffs and High Finance
Wilson’s New Freedom
Clayton Anti trust Act 1914
Sought to strengthen Sherman Anti
Trust
Outlaws companies from buying stock
in other companies
Company officers could be
prosecuted
Labor unions and farm organizations
not subject to Anti Trust laws
Strikes, boycotts pickets legal
Wilson’s New Freedom
Federal Trade Commission Act of
1914
Set up The Federal Trade
Commission
Commission has power to
investigate violations
Required reports
Cease and desist orders
Wilson’s New Freedom
A New Tax system
Reduction of Tariffs
Federal Income tax
16th Amendment authorizes income
tax
Graduated -individual earnings and
corporate profit
By 1917 government received more
in taxes than it had with tariffs
Federal Reserve System
Wilson’s New Freedom
Federal Reserve System
Looked to strengthen banking,
adjust money in circulation
Decentralized public banking system
under government control
Federal Reserve Act of 1913
12 Districts – Banker’s Banks
Could issue money, transfer funds
Wilson’s New Freedom
Suffrage
Increased activism
Bold strategies
Rebirth of National movement
Wilson’s New Freedom
Educated activists
door to door campaigning
Heckling
Carrie Catt leads national movement
Picket line around the White House
WWI
19th Amendment Introduced 1919
Ratified 1920
Wilson’s New Freedom
The Limits of Progressivism
Disappointed social progressives
Extended racial segregation
NAACP felt betrayed
Wilson’s New Freedom
The Twilight of Progressivism
No Progress, No reform during
War